idrw
Member
Please let us know.. the more data points we have the better in estimating production and delivery
Delivery Stories
I don't believe anyone could have ordered before I did. There appear to be many levels of uncertainty and secrecy in MINI's fulfillment system that make collecting data points fruitless. It would be interesting to learn how the company (and who in the company) sets the priorities for deliveries to the various countries and parts of countries.
Here's how my imagination has run wild regarding my October order ($1000) and early January specification ($500 more):
1. My order was held back to make cars for journalists, ZEV states and high-priority countries (UK and Germany)
2. The pandemic halted production
3. When production resumed, there were problems sorting out which cars to make first, moving mine further back
4. In mid-June, my car was finally manufactured and eventually transported to the UK port
5. In another instance of bad timing, it got to the port a day too late to make it onto the last boat to Baltimore
6. All the sailors on that last boat to Baltimore contracted COVID-19 in the severely-infected US
7. Now MINI cannot find a boat with sailors willing to risk the trip to Baltimore
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idrw
Member
Your production timeline seems to be within estimates (for 2021 MY cars) and could've been among the first batch of right hand drive MINI SE's to be manufactured after the shut down. Just unlucky that it missed the ship.
I still don't understand why amid this downturn that they continue to build ICE cars that are just going to sit on dealer lots than fulfill preorders that are a sure sale.
If @KeninFL got his VIN number in a month after ordering in June, I suspect there have been a lot of cancellations.. unless of course the whole production is non-sequential and is based on factors like dealer allotments, ZEV state fulfillments, color/trim combinations etc.
If MINI is going to officially say 4 to 6 months to build an SE then my car was built within that time frame. I don't really know if my SE missed the boat. I'm awaiting the Regional Sales Manager's explanation to my dealer about why the company cannot ship completed cars to waiting customers. Somebody, somewhere at BMW/MINI is screaming, "I'm doing the best that I can!"
How many more times will I log into mygarage.miniusa.com and see this ever-unchanging graphic?
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MichaelC
Well-Known Member
Got my VIN and Production Number (which my dealership received but didn't pass along to me until prompted). My SE actually entered the production queue today! So that's basically 6 weeks from the day I specified my configuration with the dealership.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
My SE went from "AT THE PORT" to "IN TRANSIT", which was confirmed by my dealer who sent me email confirming it was on a boat. Exactly one week ago status went back to "AT THE PORT", so I can only assume it's now sitting at a dock in North America, but I was cautioned the staffing of stevedores might be an issue due to the pandemic so who knows how long to unload.
idrw
Member
That is incredible!! Thank you for sharing... Looks like things are picking up at the factory
idrw
Member
Do you know which port the SE is arriving at?
Norbu72
Active Member
Very encouraging. However, I read something about a three week shutdown of the production line in August. I would love to know what the total number of SE orders they have right now.
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idrw
Member
That is bad news.. do you have a source for that information?
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
No idea what port, but since I'm in Minnesota I assumed New York/New Jersey or somewhere on the eastern seaboard.
I found an Industryweek.com article about companies preparing for a possible no-deal Brexit split. It said of MINI's Plant Oxford:
> BMW AG plans to halt production at its Mini plant in Oxford for
> two days on Oct. 31, and said earlier this month it would reduce
> output by eliminating a work shift in the event of a no-deal split.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
This article mentions a 3 week shutdown in August: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18561098.mini-workers-fear-coronavirus-spike-cowley-plant/ I tried searching for more details about this, but haven't found any yet.
If your dealer printed a Vehicle Inquiry Report after you specified your options, you'll see the port location indicated on the top-right corner. For me (in Kansas), it's Baltimore (BALPOA).
While this MINI Production & Shipping Timeline article is 15 years old, it provides helpful links and guidance for tracking your car once it leaves the factory, as well as the More Ship Tracking thread on the MINI2 forum. I'll be trying those out when my time comes.
If your dealer printed a Vehicle Inquiry Report after you specified your options, you'll see the port location indicated on the top-right corner. For me (in Kansas), it's Baltimore (BALPOA).
While this MINI Production & Shipping Timeline article is 15 years old, it provides helpful links and guidance for tracking your car once it leaves the factory, as well as the More Ship Tracking thread on the MINI2 forum. I'll be trying those out when my time comes.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Oh I do have my Vehicle Inquiry Report – my car went to BALPOA as well.
My montage of frustration:
Norbu72
Active Member
It came from this Oxford Mail article:
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18561098.mini-workers-fear-coronavirus-spike-cowley-plant/
The quote is toward the bottom of the story. Not a lot of good news here. I should go back to thinking it will be 6 months and then I can be surprised if it’s less.
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https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18561098.mini-workers-fear-coronavirus-spike-cowley-plant/
The quote is toward the bottom of the story. Not a lot of good news here. I should go back to thinking it will be 6 months and then I can be surprised if it’s less.
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
idrw
Member
I am skeptical about the oxford mail article. Looks like a contract worker badmouthing the contracting agency. I am skeptical because the statement following it about paying back money received during furlough is false.
Also, why would they shutdown for 3 weeks in August for no reason unless the government forces it to? It is unlikely with lower COVID cases now than what was in April. If there was going to be a 3 week long planned shutdown for upgrades/maintenance etc, there would be more than a few sources reporting about it than this hearsay.
Also, why would they shutdown for 3 weeks in August for no reason unless the government forces it to? It is unlikely with lower COVID cases now than what was in April. If there was going to be a 3 week long planned shutdown for upgrades/maintenance etc, there would be more than a few sources reporting about it than this hearsay.
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MichaelC
Well-Known Member
@insightman, I sincerely hope they get your SE on a boat ASAP.
I did some poking around on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen web site, and their shipping schedules look like business as usual, with ships departing Southampton for Baltimore every few days (with typical transit time of 11-12 days). I can't find the "Auto Cargo" search option mentioned in old "how to track your MINI" articles, but they do have a Contact Us page, with a web form at the bottom. Maybe a friendly inquiry would help shed some light on your car's status?
I did some poking around on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen web site, and their shipping schedules look like business as usual, with ships departing Southampton for Baltimore every few days (with typical transit time of 11-12 days). I can't find the "Auto Cargo" search option mentioned in old "how to track your MINI" articles, but they do have a Contact Us page, with a web form at the bottom. Maybe a friendly inquiry would help shed some light on your car's status?
Norbu72
Active Member
I agree, it’s odd because it’s not the Mini management saying it but an obviously disgruntled worker. The following bits about the shift hours changing are head scratchers too.
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Thank you for your research. I just got a call from my dealer telling me that the reason my and many other MINI Coopers haven't shipped is due to the shipping company being hit hard by the coronavirus. My salesperson hopes my car will arrive before September. Now I feel bad for the shipping company employees--they shouldn't have to suffer just so I can have a new car.